RICHMOND, VA. -- Using a grant from the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund and other federal and state incentive programs, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has completed agreements with several Virginia landowners that will permanently protect nearly 200 acres of restored stream banks (or buffers) in Virginia's Chesapeake Bay watershed. The agreements, called conservation easements, will help permanently restore and protect water quality in tributaries flowing to the Bay.
"This is a tremendous demonstration of successful partnerships among citizens, government and nonprofit organizations," said Libby Norris, CBF's Virginia Watershed Restoration Scientist. "These protected stream banks will not only benefit water quality in the York, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Potomac River watersheds, but will improve wildlife and fish habitat as well. We applaud the landowners and all the partners involved."
CBF provided $142,000 in staff time and money, matching dollar for dollar a $142,000 grant awarded from the Water Quality Improvement Fund. The Fund was established in 1997 by the General Assembly to help finance nonmandated water quality improvement projects. "It is critical that Virginia continue to invest funds in the Water Quality Improvement Fund in order to leverage its financial resources for maximum water quality and habitat protection," noted Ms. Norris.
Funds for the restoration work on these projects were also provided through the federal-state Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
"These projects illustrate how responsible land stewardship and profitable agricultural practices can go hand and hand," noted William H. Funk, Executive Director of the Staunton-based Valley Conservation Council, a partner in this conservation effort. "They are models for the type of partnerships that will help us restore the ecological health and economic productivity of the Shenandoah watershed."
The restored buffers protected by the permanent easements range from 100 feet wide along smaller tributaries to 300 feet along main stem waterways. The projects include fencing livestock out of 10 miles of stream and planting 105 acres of hardwood trees, 20 acres of pine, and approximately 22 acres of native warm season grass to serve as natural filters in areas previously used as pasture or grain production.
Among the restoration projects:
- Landowners Walter and June Baker permanently protected nearly one mile of stream buffers on their cattle farm in Frederick County. The Bakers restored over 50 acres by fencing livestock out of tributaries to Brush Creek and planting pine seedlings along steep, rocky slopes on their farm. CBF, in partnership with the Valley Conservation Council, included nearly 20 acres of the restored area in a conservation easement, which will help protect water quality in perpetuity.
- Jordan River Farm in Rappahannock County partnered with CBF and placed a permanent easement on 37 acres of restored riparian buffer along nearly one mile of streams leading to the Jordan River in the Rappahannock River watershed.
Coordinating partners in the restoration and protection projects include the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Valley Conservation Council, Friends of the Rappahannock, Middle Peninsula Land Trust, Northern Neck Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy.
Posted: 1-15-2003
